BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is going to establish separate registration counters for senior citizens at the out patient departments (OPDs) of the medical college and hospitals and district headquarters hospitals (DHHs). It is also set to launch Health Cards for the elderly, which would not only keep record of the health problems but also provision services on priority along with extending many other benefits and facilities. The exclusive registration counters would come as a boon for it saves energy and time of the senior citizens. They will also be given priority for consultation of doctors. The initiatives would be taken under the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said here as the World Health Day (WHD) was observed on Saturday. The WHD’s theme for the year “Ageing and Health” underlines the need for proper health care facilities to the older men and women to enable them lead full and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities. Acharya inaugurated an exclusive Geriatric OPD at the Capital Hospital on the occasion. The NPHCE and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) focus on the problems of the elderly. Under the programme every DHH will have exclusive OPDs and a 10-bed Geriatric ward for the elderly inpatients. Besides, the health centres down the level to the PHCs would be geared up with facilities for geriatric care to provide physiotherapy services. Medical, paramedics and health workers would be trained in providing home-based palliative care to the elderly who cannot visit the hospitals, Acharya said. Odisha is among the six states of the country having more than 8 per cent elderly population. Kerala has the highest at 11.8 per cent followed by Himachal Pradesh at 10.1 per cent with Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab and Odisha following suit with 10, 9.2, 8.8 and 8.7 per cent respectively. The NPCDCS and NPHCE have been rolled out in districts of Nuapada, Koraput, Balangir, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur and it is expected that all the districts would be covered in the 12th Plan period. A State-level function was held on Saturday with Acharya felicitating Dr Baikunthanath Mishra and Santa Roy for their work in the field of health care. Among others Health Secretary Anu Garg was present.
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